Tamarac Survey Suggests More Direct Bus Routes

May 15, 1985|By Jon Caroulis, Staff Writer

TAMARAC — Based on findings from a survey, it is possible bus routes here will be changed to offer quicker, more direct service in the city beginning early next year, say county transportation officials.

``People said the routes were too circuitous, that it takes too long to get around places in Tamarac,`` said Glenn Margoles, chief of operations and planning for the Broward County Mass Transit Authority.

Margoles said the authority will hold public hearings in the next two months to obtain additional public input on transportation service.

Route changes could occur in January or February.

The survey was conducted to determine what could be done to increase bus ridership and cut traffic on crowded roads, said Amy Leuw,of the American Association of Retired Persons, which helped sponsor the inquiry.

``The people are willing to use our buses,`` Margoles said. ``They have a good opinion of bus service, but they want more direct service to places they want to get to. They want to transfer less and want more frequent service.``

He said only 23 percent of those responding said they never use the bus system.

About 500 residents responded to the survey.

Currently there are five bus routes in the city.

Margoles noted that the majority of bus riders throughout the county are seniors and Tamarac, with a large senior population, should have a large ridership.

``But ridership is lower than average in Tamarac,`` Margoles said.

According to the survey, people said using the bus was helpful to them when doing food shopping.

``Getting the public involved is really important,`` Margoles said. ``A lot of people can benefit by the service.``